There is a book by John Dower  WAR WITHOUT MERCY which describes the collision between the Japaneseand the American culture in the Pacific war.  The savagery and ferocity of the combat was horrifyingto both sides who were separated by a wide cultural gulf of ignorance and inculcated propaganda.Mr. Dower also pursues the thesis that Japan and the US, equally racist in their view of one another, fueled the hatred, justified the violation of the most basic rules of war and led to the incrediblenumbers of dead and wounded on both sides.  Unlike the war in Europe, few marines or Japanesesoldiers surrendered--with good reason.  This is much more visceral than Manchester's book and willappeal less to the literary mavens amongst us.  It is an incredible and disturbing book to read.